Well Hung Over

Along with the good cheer and good food that come with the holiday season, comes the annual office holiday party and its obligatory phony smiles and eventual hang-over. This year, Gothamist Health woke up with such a headache after the company shindig that we sat up in bed, cursing modern medicine for having yet to devise a hang-over remedy that actually works. And considering that the morning-after woes may be responsible for almost $4 billion in lost earnings every year, one would think that scientists would be busy trying to come up with one.

Hangovers are probably due to a number of factors, including the toxic byproducts of alcohol metabolism, dehydration (because we all know that once you break the seal, its all over), and vitamin depletion. The most common symptoms include headache, a dry mouth, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue. In sum, you just feel like crap, which is no real surprise given that you just spent the night imbibing a poison and dancing your ass off with your tie around your head (yup, you were that guy).

Some alcohols definitely cause worse hangovers than others thanks to impurities known as congeners. In fact, ethanol itself may not be responsible for a hangover at all. Vodka and gin (clear liquors) contain less congeners than colored spirits like whiskey and rum, leading to fewer and less severe hangovers. This variation in the level of impurities is due to different filtering techniques, with the congeners actually adding additional flavors, smells, and colors. Older alcohols may also get you sicker faster as they're already filling up with toxic byproducts thanks to their reaction with oxygen.

We've always thought a good cup of black coffee in the morning would work to clear your head and get you back in the swing of things. But a mug of the stuff may worsen things by further dehydrating your already parched self. Some friends have advised nursing a hangover with a beer or Bloody Mary or a cup of New England Clam Chowder! Our own tried and true hangover helper has been drinking a flat cola (set out the night before) and wolfing down a greasy breakfast in the morning. Despite a review in the British Medical Journal last year that suggests that there are no cures for hangovers other than to practice abstinence or moderation, we're relying on you, our readers, to send us some tips on how to stave off the morning-after pains. As for the morning-after regrets, you're on your own.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Kapil Desai in News on December 11, 2006 9:59 AM

Comments [rss]

michelle

don't take aspirin when you have been drinking. it does a serious number on your liver. serious!!! its worse than drinking.

drink shit loads of water if you can without puking, and take vitamins.

Anon E. Mouse

2 hard boiled eggs (with salt), that purple Vitamin Water (has potassium in it), and super anti-oxidant green tea (no sweeteners; as is, and keep it strong).

That's always worked for me.

Brendan

How is no one mentioning smoking grass the whole next day. Advil no good for liver. Oh well. Xanax not to be taken either. too bad. Smoke pot!

jaunty joker

a tall glass of water before passing out...two advil and a two tall glasses of water when you wake.

Your liver

Advil (ibuprofen) seems to be fine on your liver but may irritate your stomach, especially with alcohol; Tylenol (acetominephan) combined with drinking can be quite bad for your liver.

andrew

eat a banana. drink lots of water. puke. not necessarily to be in that order.

Christian

I would like to further support the suggestions of taking B Vitamins. Whenever I go out drinking I take a couple B vitamins with several glasses of water before I pass out. This has dramatically improved the way I feel the morning after.

Eric

Take 1 vitamin B-Complex pill before going out to drink with one large glass of Gatorade, then upon returning home take 2 tylenol with one large glass of Gatorade and I have neve had a hangover after doing it, however if you do it once and you don't do it the next time you will kick yourself in the ass cause you know how good you could have had it.

I think you have to get the vitamins in your system before the alcohol, it doesnt do you any good to take vitamins when you body is already so sick it wont have an effect, take the vitamins before and pre-condition your body for the beating you are about to hand it.

warren the great

i'm no expert, but if you're that drunk then i would imagine the added damage to your liver done by popping the two advils is probably minimal, no?

nicemarmot

Gatorade and a hangover sandwich (eggs, cheese & ham)

don diego

4 or 5 advil and a bottle of water before I jack off at least once and go to bed - ready for action in the Am everytime!

k8

Taking advil while drinking/drunk is really bad for your liver

bb

believe it or not..yoohoo...seriously..and i cant sort out why.

i tend to stick to smart water and a nutiriment shake..if you can remember to take the nutriment and a B complex when you get home you should be pretty safe. rmeember, you're dehydrated, so smartwater/daisani are better options than the tap. this time of year it makes sense to make up a pitcher of the WHO's rehdrating sollution...salk, baking soda, sugar, orange juice and water...proportions are essential, so do be sure too check on them....having it at home definately helps.

uncommon sense

DoctorD: seeing as how you're not supposed to drink on Xanax, it's probably not a good idea to take it while still drunk.

tom

Pedialyte

It has all the vitamins you lost, is specifically engineered to replenish you,

and has less sugar than gatorade.

Plus it comes in freezer pop form.

So spend the afternoon watching football and eating freezer pops like me.

andy

Tamales or a full English breakfast work wonders for my inevitable morning headache. Also, make sure you eat something substantial before your first drink; it will jumpstart your stomach so that your bloodstream doesn't get sucker punched by that first drink, however fun that may be.

c

advil before you pass out, and wendy's as soon as possible when you finally wake up the next day. of all the greasy fast foods out there, wendy's is the magic hangover cure for me.

brooklynbee

Yes - Gatorade, with an egg sandwich.

Ange

Prevention is the key, I agree. Two Advil Migraine and a couple of glasses of water before bed usually work for me. If I don't remember to do that, Mint Tea and peanut butter on toast in the morning. The mint tea really helps to settle the stomach.